A canine pack animal who loves human companionship.
Eats cats. Can take down large game. Doesn't sleep all day. Guards the house. Slobbers on the in-laws. Working animal. Easy to train. Happily greets you when you come home. Has good taste in furniture, particularly when eating said furniture.
Most of all, the dog is a great human companion.
Not a cat.

Beer, particularily Newcastle Brown Ale, a beer popular in The UK, Australia & the USA. The term started as a Geordie euphemism for slipping out to the pub i.e. "I'm going to walk the dog" or "I'm going to see a man about a dog" and has since become synonymous with this brand of beer.